Collaboration between the US and China on space programs has
"hardly begun," and the two sides desire to build closer ties.
This was the message delivered during the landmark visit of
Michael Griffin, the first National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) administrator to visit China.
He arrived in Beijing on Saturday and met with Sun Laiyan, head
of the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
"With this visit, the US is taking the first step towards
helping establish closer relations with China's space program
planners," Griffin told reporters at the US Embassy yesterday. "But
again, collaboration on human missions would be well down the
road."
Commenting on his talks with Sun, the NASA chief said: "We have
agreed we'll continue governmental discussions between NASA and the
CNSA at least once a year."
He revealed the two sides were exploring the idea of starting a
working group in areas such as earth science, climate research,
data sharing on various science missions, and robotic explorations.
"We believe that might be a productive thing to do, and we are
going to explore it."
Griffin added: "The collaboration has not been proceeding at too
fast a pace. We are at the start rather than at the end. So we need
to let it evolve."
He also said that China had clearly made "enormous strides" in a
very short period of time in developing its space program.
Griffin leaves for Shanghai today.
(China Daily September 26, 2006)
